To enjoy Surround mode, Dolby PRO Logic II surround

To enjoy Surround mode

The HT-R490’s surround sound enables you to enjoy the presence of a movie theater or concert hall in your room.

Before using a surround mode, make sure the speaker setup has been set (refer to page 21).

The configuration of the speakers are very important for the surround sound. Refer to “Positioning speakers” on page 16 and “Connecting speakers” on page 17.

Surround modes

DOLBY DIGITAL Surround, DTS (Digital Theater System) Surround

This 5.1-channel digital surround format enables you to individually record and play five full-range (20 Hz-20 kHz) channels (left and right front, center, two surround channels) plus an LFE channel (Low Frequency Effect) for the low-range effect sound. It will create a realistic sound that could be heard in the theaters and concert halls.

DOLBY DIGITAL: Select this option when you play a DVD

video that has a mark.

DTS: Select this option when you play a DVD player, laser disc,

or CD that has a mark.

DOLBY PRO LOGIC II surround

This is a 5-channel surround system of a new generation, casting a bridge between the previous 4-channel (Left/Right Front, Center and monaural surround channels) Pro Logic surround and 5.1- channel Dolby Digital surround. Dolby Pro Logic II provides the MOVIE mode optimized for viewing movies and the MUSIC mode optimized for listening to music. In the MOVIE mode, the surround channel, which has been monaural and based on narrow band, is reproduced in stereo so that the feeling of movement in the played movies is more enhanced. In the MUSIC mode, the surround channel reproduces natural sound field even with 2- channel music sources.

The MOVIE mode allows you to enjoy VHS and DVD software

carrying the marking as well as some of TV broadcast programs. The MUSIC mode allows you to enjoy stereo music from CD, etc.

Analog/PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) surround

Analog sources include the audio records, AM/FM broadcasting and cassette tapes. The PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) signal is a kind of digital audio signal, which is recorded directly on CD or DVD without being compressed. When an analog or PCM source is played, you can enjoy unique surround modes to Onkyo as listed below.

ORCHESTRA: This mode is suitable for classics and opera music. The center channel is cut and the surround channels are emphasized to widen the stereo image. It will simulate a natural reverberation that can be created in a large hall.

UNPLUGGED: This mode is suitable for acoustic instrumental sounds, vocals, and jazz music. By emphasizing the front stereo image, it will simulate the acoustics in front of the stage.

ALL CH ST: This mode is useful for background music. The front and surround channels will create a stereo image.

Notes on DTS

•If you play a CD or LD that supports DTS when the “ANALOG” setting is selected on the HT-R490, the DTS encoded signal will not be decoded and noise will be output. This noise could damage the amplifier and speakers. Therefore, be sure to select “AUTO” and use the DIGITAL INPUT jacks (OPTICAL/COAXIAL) to connect the DTS source. (Refer to “Setting the input signal format” on page 23.)

•If you play a CD or LD that supports DTS when the “AUTO” setting is selected, you may hear a noise for a short while until the DTS decoder recognizes the DTS encoded signal and starts operating. This is not a malfunction.

•If you press the pause or skip button on the player while playing a DTS source, a short noise may be heard. This is not a malfunction.

•The DTS indicator on the HT-R490 lights up while it plays the DTS source. When playback concludes and the DTS signal transmission stops, the HT-R490 remains in DTS mode and the DTS indicator remains lit. This prevents noise when you operate the pause or skip button on the player. Therefore, if the source switches from the DTS signal to the PCM signal immediately, the PCM signal may not be played. In this case, stop the playback of the source on the player for about 3 seconds, then resume playback.

•Some CD players and LD players may be unable to play DTS sources correctly even if you connect the player to the HT-R490 digitally. This is because the digital signal has been processed (such as the output level, sampling frequency, frequency response, etc.), and the HT-R490 cannot recognize the signal as DTS data. Therefore, you may hear noise when you play a DTS source while processing the signal.

•The TAPE OUT or VIDEO 2 OUT jacks of the HT-R490 output analog audio. Do not record CDs or LDs that support DTS using these jacks. Otherwise, you will record a DTS encoded signal as noise.